Tent



9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1950 P. FRIEDER ET AL TENT Filed June 11, 1946c 0 co 00 I0 I I I I IN V EN TORS Feb. 14, 1950 P. FRIEDER ET AL2,497,596

TENT

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, 1946 INVENTOR. LEONARD P FR/EDER W4;75/? 5'. F7N/1EN BY M8 ATTORNEY Feb. 14, 1950 L. P. FRIEDER ET AL2,497,596

TENT

Filed June 11, 1946 9 Shets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TORS' L EON/I RD E EQ/EDER14444 75/? S. Fi/V/TEN A TTOZEZVEY Feb. 14, 1950 L. P. FRIEDER ET ALTENT 9 Sheets-Sheei 7 Filed June 11, 1946 INVENTORS f$29555553 vsflzm ATT OENEY Feb. 14, 1950 1.. P. FRIEDER ET AL TENT Filed June 11, 1946 9Sheets-Sheet 8 5 NVENTOR.

LEON/4RD FTQEDER B $1444 75/? J /NKE/V ATTUENEY Patented Feb. 14, 1950TENT Leonard P. Frieder, Great Neck, and Walter S. Finken, Brooklyn, N.Y.; said Finken assignor to said Frieder Application June 11, 1946,Serial No. 676,000

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to tents, and more particularly to tents havingpanels of fabric which are so cut and supported as to distributestresses throughout the fabric more equally than is accomplished infabric tents of the conventional type. Among the objects of theinvention is to provide a tent which is composed of panels of fabric soshaped and extended that when the tent is readied for general use, thefabric material constituting the panels is strained substantiallyuniformly throughout the panels and the tent is adapted to be readilyslackened to avoid excessive strain in the fabric when circumstances aresuch as to cause shrinkage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent having a flexibleridge line and a minimum number of supporting poles and wherein theeaves of the tent are extended and the tent cover is supported byflexible lines or cords which extend along scams or lines ofintersections of the various panels and also along the eaves and whereinthe tension in the material of the tent can be increased or slackened bythe shortening or extending of a relatively few number of lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tent, fly, or othercovering cut on the bias and finished along incurvin lines at its edgesand supported in, such a manner that the strain-s in the fabric aretransmitted angularly with respect to the edges of the fabric and crossin accordance with the weave of the fabric when the fabric is extendedand held taut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fabric wall for a tentwherein the lower edge of the wall is formed on an incurving line and isprovided with a clear channel accommodating a cord or other line which,when tensioned, distorts the material of the wall and provides meanswhereby the lower edge of the Wall may be held close to the ground.

Another object is to provide a storm flap for normally overlying a doorand adapted for displacement to permit access to the door.

Other objects and. advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter in connection with the description of a tent which embodiesthe principles of the invention and the best mode in which we havecontemplated applying those principles. The tent illustrated in thedrawings includes a cover or canopy having center and end sectionsjoined together. The center section is composed of sloping side panelssubstantially rectangular in shape and cut on the bias. The upper edgesof the side panel-s are joined at the ridge line of the tent and thelower edges form the caves of the tent. The upper and lower edges arefinished to provide incurving edges. The incurving edges may be in thegeneral shape of a catenary and are subjected to loading under uniformlydistributed loads whereby the curve of the edges tends to flatten.

The tent is supported at either end of its ridge line by a pair of polesfrom which guys extend to the ground. The poles are connected togetherby the material of the canopy extending between th poles. Thisconnection is normally flexible enough to permit such slackening in thetautness of the material of the panels as may be required to relieveundue strain when shrinkag occurs because of dampness. between the upperends of the tent poles which may be tensioned for fully extending thecanopy. A cord freely passes through a sleeve at the cave edge of eachpanel. When the ridge cord and cave cords are tensioned the incurvingupper and lower edges of the panel tend to flatten and thereby causemovement of the bias cut fabric and impart substantially uniform stressover the panels.

The end edges of the sloping side panels are fastened to end sectionsconstituting a number of gores. The tensioning of the sloping sidepanels produces an inward pull along their side edges which istransmitted to the immediately adjacent gores. The gores are alsoprovided with incurving eaves and cords running through sleeves at theeaves which, when tensioned, main tain the gores extended. The slopingside panels and the end sections are supported in their extendedpositions of use by a number of lines or cords which extend from thevicinity of the tops of the tent poles to the ground. These lines passfreely through sleeves, with the result that the material of the tent isrelatively free from the supporting lines and can adjust itselfrelatively to the lines but is maintained by the lines in a On occasionof shrinkage of the fabric or of the guy lines due to moisture, thefabric may be relieved by releasing the tension on the ridge line andthereby produce the slack normally afforded in other types of tents bythe loosening of the guy lines.

A ridge cord is provided The side walls or curtains of the tentextending downwardly from adjacent the eaves are also preferably cut onthe bias. The lower edges of the side walls are inwardly curved andprovided with sleeves through which lines pass. These lines are stakedto the ground at their ends and by tightening the lines the side wallsare held taut and the lower edges are held close to the ground. By thisconstruction, soil cloths, which are stitched to the lower edges of theside walls, are provided with a continuous anchoring along theirlengths.

The door for the tent constitutes a removable panel which is fastened tothe edges of an opening in a side wall. This panel has an overlappingslit of a height suflicient to permit the entry of a man. For thepurpose of preventing the entry of heavy blasts of air through the doorin stormy weather, a flap of fabric is provided which preferably isattached to a side edge and the upper edge of the door opening. Thisflap extends approximately three times the width of the door panel andtapers downwardly to the ground so that a person can step over the uppersloping edge of the flap and work his way between the side wall and theflap to reach the slit in the tent door. The outer edge of the stormdoor is fastened in position by means of an elastic cord which permitsmanipulation of the flap for this purpose.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tent erected and ready for use;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the tent illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one end of the tent;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the tent showing the doorpanel in place;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 4 with the door panelremoved;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of Fig. 3 showing the doorpanel and the storm flap;

Fig. 7 shows a covering in the form of a sloping side panel of a tentlying in the plane of the paper in its normal unstressed condition;

Fig. 8 is a view of the covering illustrated in Fig. 7 slightlydistorted by tensioned cords running through sleeves at its upper andlower edges;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the upper end of one of the tentpoles taken on a line longitudinally of the tent;

Fig. 10 illustrates a cleat by which the ridge line may be fastened to atent pole;

Fig. 11 is a section on line H-H of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal view of a portion of the tent on line l2--I2 ofFig. 9;

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of a portion of the tent adjacent acorner of a sloping side panel and an adjacent gore;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a portion of the tent adjacentadjoining gores; and

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a portion of the tent adjacent thecentral gore and adjoining gores;

Fig. 16 is a side view of a device for tensioning the ridge lineattached to a tent pole;

Fig. 17 is a view of the tensioning device shown in Fig. 16 as seen fromthe right; and

Fig. 18 is a section on line |8l8 of Fig. 17.

The tent illustrated in the drawings demonstrates one manner of usingthe invention. It includes a cover or roof having two adjoining slopingside panels l0 and H which are connected together by stitching along theridge I2 extending between a pair of tent poles l3, l4. The tent pole I3is guyed at one end of the tent by guy lines 15 and I6 and is heldspaced from pole [4 by the adjoining edges of material of sloping sidepanels In and II. Guys I! and I8 similarly steady tent pole l4 at theother end of the tent.

The ends of the tent may be substantially semicircular in plan, asillustrated in Fig. 2. The covers for the ends are constituted of goreswhich are joined together by lines of stitching. In the tent illustratedin the drawings there are five gores at either end of the tent. Gore I9is stitched to the sloping side panel [0 along adjoining edges 20, andis stitched to gore 2| along adjoining edges 22. Gore 24 is stitched togore 2| along adjoining edges 25 and is stitched to gore 26 alongadjoining edges 21. Gore 28 is stitched to gore 26 along adjoining edges29 and to sloping side panel ll along adjoining edges 30. Gores 3|, 32,33, 34 and 35 at the other end of the tent, are similar in shape andconstruction to gores 19, 2|, 24, 26 and 28, respectively. One featureof the invention which is concerned particularly with the manner inwhich the tent is supported and extended during use is the fact that, ifdesired, the gore panels of the cover at either side or both ends of thetent can be dispensed with, or may be constructed to provide endportions having a ground configuration other than semi-circular. Whenone of the end sections of the cover which is formed of gores isdispensed with, the guys, tapes and cords 00- operating with the slopingside panels IB and II will operate to maintain the sloping side panelsextended, as will hereinafter appear. We have employed a duck ofstandard weave as material for the tent, but other suitable materials ofvarious weights may be used.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, each sloping side panel is rectangularand is made up of a series of strips of fabric running diagonally acrossthe panel and stitched together at their edges as indicated at 36, 31,38, etc. The widths of the strips depend upon the width of the materialavailable and if a panel is small enough it may be made from one pieceof material. The weave of the fabric of the panel meets each of the fourpanel edges on the bias. The upper edge 39 and the lower edge 40 of eachrectangular panel is out along an inwardly sloping curve, whereas theside edgs 4| and 42 are out along substantially straight lines.

In forming a gabled roof two similar panels are stitched together alongedge 39. A ridge cord 43 underlies adjoining upper edges of the slopingside panels and is slidable with respect thereto so that when the cordis tensioned, the tendency is to flatten the curve of the incurving edge39 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. The lower edge 40 of the panelis supported and extended by a cord 44 which is slidable with respect tothe edge and when this cord is tensioned it likewise tends to flattenthe lower incurving edge 48 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. Whencords 43 and 44 are under tension, as illustrated in Fig. 8, each panelis held taut by the uniformly distributed force caused by the tensionedcords. This state of tautness tends to incurve or dish-in the end edges4|, 42, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 8. When two of such panels areincorporated in a tent having end cover sections, the lateral pull dueto the contraction widthwise of a a panel exerts a lateral or horizontalpull on the adjacent end sections which are stitched along 76 edges 4|and 42 of the rectangular panels, with the result that the tautness in arectangular panel effects a degree of tautness in the adjoining panelsof the tent. The arrangement of the fabric on the bias contributeselasticity which cannot be obtained when the threads of the material arenot diagonally disposed with respect to the edges of the panels to whichstress is applied. The action of straightening out or of flattening thecurves of the upper and lower edges causes movement of the bias cutfabric in such manner as to apply equal or uniform tension throughout.the area of the fabric and thereby avoid unequal stress that is visibleas wrinkles.

The supporting cords, such as 45 and 46, do not offer substantialrestraint to readjustment of the threads of the material in the panelsas they are not attached to the panel except at their upper ends. Theyare slidably arranged within sleeves along the edges of the panel andtheir principal function is to sustain the tent cover and to hold thelower cord 44 in an elevated position. The lower cord 44 tends tostraighten between the supporting cords 45 and 46 when tensioned and isslidable laterally to the supporting cords but not longitudinally of thesupporting cords, as will hereinafter be described more fully. A singlepanel constructed as described and supported by cords running freelythrough sleeves at its edges is useful as a cover. Joined sloping sidepanels constructed and arranged as described may be used alone as atent, fly or other cover.

The sloping side panels 10 and II of the tent illustrated in Figs. 1 and2 are constructed and arranged to function in the manner describedhereinabove with reference to Figs. '7 and 8. The seam between slopingside panels l and I l is illustrated in Fig. 11. The interlocking edgesare stitched together at 49 and 50 and the seam is protected from theweather by a strip which is fastened to both sloping side panels.Underlying .the seam but unattached thereto there is a tubular tape 52whose ends are fastened to grommets like grommet 53, Fig. 9, whichengage a pin 54 extending from the upper end of each tent pole l3 and M.This tubular tape contributes support to the center of the tent when thetent is slack.

The ridge line by which the tent is tightened, passes through thetubular element 52 and is fastened to the tent poles. This ridge line isshown in Fig. 9 as including a cord 55 passing from an opening 56 in thetubular tape 52. Cord 55 is ffastened to a ring 5'! which is engaged bya hook 58 at one end of a cord 59. Cord 59 passes over sheaves 60 and 6!and may be fastened to the tent pole by means of a cleat 62, Fig. 10, orany other suitable form of fastening means. While it is not necessary toprovide a releasable fastening means on both tent poles, this may bedone so. that the ridge cord can be slackened at either end of the tent.

All of the tubular tapes and contained cords throughout the tent arepreferably made of the same kind of material. We have found that tapesand cords made of nylon are well suited for the purpose as that materialhas low frictional resistance and the cord slides easily with respect tothe tape. Strip 64, which is stitched at its edges to the underside ofsloping panels I 0 and II, is provided for preventing the displacementof tubular tape 52 and cord 55 from association with the cover of thetent when the tent is taken down. The tent poles may constitute ordinarywooden poles or poles which can be folded for packing. As shown in Fig.9, the top end of the pole has.

6 fitted to it a tubular metallic member -63 which supports sheaves 60and 6| and provides a pin 54 to which the grommet 53 and the guy linesl5 and H; for the pole are attached.

As may be seen in Figs. 9 and 12, the sloping side panels In and IIextend beyond the pin 54 of the tent pole and the grommet 53, which isengaged in a hole in these panels anchors the panels to the tent pole.The upper edges of each of the gores at one end of the tent andadjoining corners of the side panels I 0 and I I are fastened togetherby an underlying reinforcement 66 and an overlying reinforcement 61,each of which is stitched to the gores as shown at '68, Fig. 9. Thesetwo reinforcements are pierced and engaged by the grommet 53, wherebythe gores are connected to the sloping side panels I 0 and I l at thetop of the pole. The center gore 24 is shown as being stitched to thereinforcements 66 and '61 in Fig. 9, and it will be understood that eachof the remaining gores are similarly stitched to these reinforcements.The upper corners of the sloping side panels interlock at 69 with anapron 10. All of these layers of material and the upper ends of guys I5and l 6 are preferably protected from the weather by a metallic cover H,which is held in place by a knob 12 in threaded engagement with theupper end of pin 54. It will be understood that the joining of thematerials at the other end of the tent is accomplished in the mannerdescribed and as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 12.

The supporting tapes 15, 16, 11, 1a, 19 and so at either end of the tentmeet in an area 8|, Fig. 12, and are there fastened to each other and.anchored to reinforcements 66 and 61 by stitching, as illustrated inFigs. 9 and 12. The supporting tapes are free from direct attachment tothe material of the tent cover, except in the vicinity of theirintersection and within the area provided by the reinforcements 66 and61. The relationships of the supporting tapes to the tent cover areillustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15. As shown in Fig. 13, supportingtape 15 freely passes through a tunnel formed by a strip -82 -which isstitched at one edge to sloping side panel l0 and at its other'edge togore 19. As shown in Fig. 14, supporting tape 16 underlies seam 22between gore l9 and gore 2| and is encased between the material of thetent cover and strip 83 which is fastened to the tent cover, the tape 16being free to stretch or slide relatively to the tent cover. As shown inFig. 15, the supporting tape H is similarly mounted with respect togores 2| and 24, and supporting tape 18 is likewise similarly mountedwith respect to gores 24 and 26. The lower ends of each of thesupporting tapes 15, 16, 11, 18, 19 and are respectively extended byguys 84, 85, 86, 81, 81a and 811), which are anchored to the ground bymeans of pegs, such as 88, Fig. 13. The lengths of these guys and thespacing of the pegs from the wall of the tent is such as to support thecave of the tent at its desired height. The supporting tapes areconnected to the guys by means of thimbles similar to the ones shown inFigs. 13 and 14. The thimbles at the lower ends of tapes 1'6, 11, 18 and19 are holed at 9|, Fig. 14, for the free passage of an eave cord 92which is continuous through the several intermediate thimbles and isfastened at its ends to the thimbles 93, one at the lower end of each ofsupporting tapes 15 and 80, as shown in Fig. 13. The pull on eave cord92 by the guys maintains the lower or eave edges of the gores extended.

All of the lower edges of the gores are similarly constructed. As shownin Fig. 13, the lower edge of gore I9 is looped to provide a channel 94and a lap 95 which is twice reversed at 96 and 91 and stitched to thegore at 98 and 99. A portion of the lap I is stitched to a tape IOI anddrops down to form a portion I02 of the lower side wall. The remainingportion of the lower side wall is constituted of material I03, which isstitched to the edge of the depending extension I02.

The channel 94 encloses a tubular tape I04 which is otherwise free fromattachment to the sore. Eave cord 92 is free for movement relative tothe tubular tape I04. As shown in Fig. 13, eave cord 92 extends throughthe thimble 93 and is tied thereto by an anchoring device I05, which isadjustable for drawing the cord and applying the desired tensionthereto. A similar anchoring device is provided for attaching the otherend of cord 92 to the thimble at the lower end of supporting tape 80.

The eave edges of each sloping side panel I0 and II is finished in themaner in which the eave edges of the gores are finished and each slopingside panel has depending therefrom a side wall I06 similar to side wallI03, Fig. 13. The lower edge of each sloping side panel also has achannel I0I supporting a tubular tape I08 through which an eave cord 44extends. At each of the end edges of each sloping side panel the eavecord 44 freely passes through a thimble 93 in the manner illustrated inFig. 13 and extends downwardly to a stake I09, Figs. 1 and 2. The stakesat either end of the eave cord are so placed that tension in eave cord44 will tend to flatten the curve in the eave edge between the end edgesof the sloping side panel, and will also exert a component of force onthe supporting tape I5. Guy 04, by which the supporting tape I istensioned and held in its proper position, exerts a slight horizontalcomponent of force on thimble 93 because of the location of peg 88outside of a straight line extending between thimble 93 at oppositesides of the tent, Fig. l. The supporting tape 75 is urged outwardlyfrom the end edge 20 of the sloping side panel principally b the tensionin eave cord 92. The portion of eave cord 44 which extends downwardlyfrom thimble 93 is reacted against by the tension in eave cord 44between the ends of the eave of the sloping side panel I0 and thereaction is such as to hold thimble 93 and supporting tape I5 in theposition in which the material of the tent cover is fully extended.

The material and the weave of the material constituting the goresextends angularly to the edges of the gores, with the exception that inthe central gore 24 the strips of the material run parallel to the cave.All of the eave edges, when out and in a normal condition free fromstress, curve inwardly. When the eave cords are tensioned the curvingedges tend to straighten.

The invention thus far described has utility as a tent or covering whichmay consist of central sections of sloping side panels joined to endsections, or may consist of a cover formed only by a sectionconstituting the rectangular sloping side .panels. In either case thecovering may be supported at any desired height from the ground. Whenthe ridge cord, eave cords, supporting tapes and guys are properlytensioned, the material of the covering will be fully distended and heldtaut and free from wrinkles. To slacken an erected tent it is necessaryonly to relieve the tension in the ridge cord. Hereinabove we havedescribed the use of an ordinar cleat for securing the ends of the ridgecord. In Figs. 16 and 1'7 we have illustrated another form of device bywhich the ridge cord may be tensioned or slackened without untying thefree end of the cord. This device consists of a pivoted arm IIO which isbifurcated at III and H2 and is pivotally connected to a clevis II3 bymeans of rivets H4 and I I5. The clevis is held fast to the lower end ofa tent pole by means of a bolt III. The free end of cord 59 is fastenedto a spool II9 which is rotatably mounted upon pin I20 carried by thebifurcated portions of lever arm IIO. Fastened to one side of the spoolis a ratchet wheel I2I which is normally engaged by a pawl I22 pivotallymounted on pin I23. A spring I24 biases the pawl into engagement withthe ratchet wheel.

' per and lower pole sections.

The device is so mounted on the tent pole and adjusted that when thelever arm I I0 is in its lowered position cord 59 will be tensioned andwill cause the ridge cord to tend to straighten out between the twopoles which support the tent. The pull on cord 59 is inside of thepivotal axis II4I I5 and the lever arm will accordingly act as a togglelink and remain in its lowermost position. When it is desired to slackenthe ridge cord it is necessary only that an operator raise the lever tothe position I I0a. Minor changes in the ultimate tension desired to behad in the ridge cord can be attained by winding or unwinding the end ofthe cord about the spool when the cord is slacked. Pawl I22 preventsaccidental turning of the spool.

The pole shown in Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18 is a folding pole having a lowerportion I25 pivotally connected to an upper portion I20 by means of aplate I21 which is pivotally connected to the upper and lower polesections, respectively, by pins I28 and I29. A sleeve I30 overlaps theends of the upper and lower pole sections and holds them coaxially. Thesleeve is slotted at I3I and I32 to permit sliding engagement with pinsI33 and I34, which extend respectively from the up- The pole sectionsare foldable only when the sleeve I30 has been slid beyond the upper endof the lower pole section.

When it is desired to provide a tent having vertical side walls, thismay be done by attaching the side walls to the canopy or covering in themanner above described with respect to side wall I03. The constructionof the lower edges of the lower side walls I03 and I06 is wellillustrated in Fig. 13. Each side wall is preferably made of materialcut on the bias. The side walls below the sloping side panels and thegores are separate panels which may be individually rolled up and tied.The lower edge of each lower wall is incurved and folded as at I35 toprovide a channel for a ground cord I3I. The ground cord is engaged topegs beyond the ends of the wall, such as peg 138, and by tightening theground cord, the lower edge of the side wall tends to straighten out andhug the ground. Each lower side wall is preferably provided with a soilcloth I39 which is stitched to the lower edge of the side wall.

The end portions of the tent may be variously shaped in elevation. Asillustrated in Fig. 3, the side walls attached to gores 2I and 26 slopeupwardly to provide a vertical height in the side wall attached tocentral gore 24 which is sufficiently high to provide a door throughwhich side wall I40 is provided with a rectangular opening I having aseries of grommets I42 along its four edges for enabling the fasteningof a door I43, which is also provided with complementary grommets,whereby the door may be laced into position or removed at will. The doormay be made out of duck and is provided with an overlapping slit I44through which a man may enter.

In stormy weather, and to prevent the entry of blasts of air, there isprovided a storm flap I45, which is removably attached along itsvertical edge to a flap I46, Figs. 3 and 6. This storm flap may also beattached to the upper edge of the door opening of the tent along itsupper horizontal edge I41. The free end of the storm flap istriangularly shaped and normally extends adjacent the lower side wallI48 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 6. The free end of the storm flapis provided with a ring I49 for securing an elastic cord I50 thereto.This cord is anchored at its other end to the ground at Il. Theelasticity of the cord is such that the storm flap may be pulled awayfrom its normal position against wall I48 so that a man may slip betweenthe storm flap and the wall and advance to the slit I44 in the innerdoor.

Although it will now be apparent that tent structures embodying theprinciples of the invention, particularly with respect to the tensioningand flattening of horizontal edges of panels (herein shown in varioustypes, e. g. gore panels, side cover panels and wall panels), may haveless or more numbers or kinds of panels than are illustrated in thespecific tent of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 (i. e. depending on the shape andcharacter of tent desired, whether'round, elongated and with its slopingcover raised or not above the ground), a relatively elaborate structurehas been shown in the drawings in order to illustrate a variety of ways,especially in combination, whereby the described novel features may beput to practical use.

As stated, in general, various panels of the tent, e. g. gores andquadrilateral panels, are cut from fabric so that the weave is verypreferably pitched to the horizontal edges and preferably to all edges.As also explained, for instance in connection with the illustrated tent,an important feature of an erected tent embodying the invention is thatthe cords along the lower edges of the cover are staked in such mannerthat tensioning a cord between stakes has the effect of exerting adistributed force along the lower edge of a corresponding panel andgenerally within the plane of the panel.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fabric tent, a plurality of cover sections including slopingside panels which are substantially rectangular and cut on the bias andhave incurving upper and lower edges with the upper edges joined toprovide a flexible ridge, means supporting said ridge, a flexiblesleevealong the lower edge of each of said sloping side panels, and a corddisposed in said sleeve and freely slid-. able therethrough, said.cordextending beyond the ends of said sleeve and sloping side panel forattachment to stakes at each end of the cord so that when said cord istensioned lengthwise of the sleeve the lower incurving edge of saidsloping side panel tends to flatten and thereby cause movement of thebias cut fabric and impart substantially uniform stress over the slopinside panel. 3 4

2. In a fabric tent, a plurality of cover sections including slopingside panels which are substantially rectangular and cut on the bias andhave incurving upper and lower edges with the upper edges joined toprovide a flexible ridge, tent poles adjacent either end of saidflexible ridge, a. flexible cord extending between said tent poles andunderlying the flexible ridge, a sleeve along the lower edge of each ofsaid panels, a core within said sleeve and extending from the ends ofsaid panel, and anchoring means at the ends of said last-named cordwhereby said cord may be tensioned and cause the curve of the incurvinglower edge of said panel to tend to flatten and thereby stress the biascut fabric substantially uniformly.

3. In a fabric tent, a plurality of cover sections including slopingside panels which are substantially rectangular and cut on the bias andhave incurving upper and lower edges with the upper edges joined toprovide a flexible ridge, means supporting said ridge, said meansincluding a pole adjacent each endof said ridge, said poles being spacedapart so as to permit said ridge to sag, a tape secured to each of saidpoles and underlying the ridge of said joined panels, a ridge cordextending between the upper ends of said poles and adapted to betensioned for flattening the ridge line of said joined panels, a sleevealong the lower edge of each of said panels, and a cord freely passingthrough said sleeve, said last-named cord being anchored at its ends tothe ground and adapted to be tensioned for flattening the lowerincurving edge of said panel whereby when said ridge cord and saidlastnamed cord are tensioned, the panel is rendered taut as the resultof movement of the bias out fabric.

4. In a fabric tent, a plurality of sections including sloping sidepanels which are substantially rectangular and cut on the bias and haveincurving upper and lower edges with the upper edges joined to provide aflexible ridge, a pair of supporting poles located one adjacent eitherend of said flexible ridge, a ridge cord extending between said polesand adapted to be tensioned for supporting and flattening the upperincurving edges of said rectangular panels, said cord being free toslide with respect to said panels, a sleeve along the lower edge of eachof said panels and a cord disposed within said sleeve and freelyslidable therethrough, said cord being anchored at each end and adaptedto be tensioned, whereby when said cords and said ridge cord aretensioned the weave of the material in said panels is distorted, theincurving upper and lower edges of said panels tend to straighten, theend edges of said panels tend to curve inwardly and said panels arerendered taut.

5. A fabric tent comprising a plurality of cover sections includinslopin side panels which are substantially rectangular and cut on thebias and have incurving upper and lower edges with the upper edgesjoined to provide a flexible ridge, end cover sections consisting ofgores fastened together along adjacent edges, each end section havingedges fastened to end edges of said panels, tension elements extendingfrom adjacent the ridge of said tent to the eaves of said tent atconnections between sections and between gores, said tension elementsbeing adapted to slip longitudinally with respect to said coversections, means for anchoring the ends-of said tension elements to theground, a pair of supporting poles located one adjacent either end-ofsaid flexible ridge, a ridge cord extending between said poles andadapted to be tensioned for supporting and flattening the upperincurving edges of said panels, said cord being free to slide withrespect to said panels, a sleeve along the lower edge of each of saidpanels and means intermediate said tension elements at the ends of saidpanels for guiding a cord, a cord disposed within said sleeve and freelyslidable through said guiding means, said last-named cord being anchoredat its ends to the ground and adapted to be tensioned for flattening thelower incurving edge of said panel.

6. In a fabric tent, a plurality of sections including sloping sidepanels which are substantially rectangular and cut on the bias and haveincurving upper and lower edges with the upper edges joined to provide aflexible ridge, end cover sections consisting of gores fastened togetheralong adjacent edges, each end section having edges fastened to endedges of said panels, said gores having incurving lower edges withsleeves therein, tension elements extending from adjacent the ridge ofsaid tent to the eaves of said tent at connections between sections andgores, said tension elements being adapted to slip longitudinally withrespect to said sections, means for anchoring the ends of said tensionelements to the ground, a pair of supporting poles located adjacenteither end of said flexible ridge, a ridge cord extending between saidpoles and adapted to be tensioned for flattening the upper incurvingedges of said rectangular panels, said cord being free to slide withrespect to said panels, a sleeve along the lower edge of each of saidpanels and a cord disposed within said sleeve and freely slidabletherethrough, means intermediate said tension elements at the ends ofsaid panels for guiding said last-named cord, said last-named cord beinganchored at its ends to the ground and adapted to be tensioned forflattening the lower incurving edge of said panel, and a cord within thesleeves at the lower edges of said gores, said last-named cord beingattached to said guiding means.

7. In a fabric tent, a plurality of cover sections includingsubstantially rectangular sloping sections joined at their upper edgesto provide a flexible ridge and polygonal-shaped end cover sectionsjoined at their side edges to said substantially rectangular sections,said polygonal end cover sections being formed of gores, polessupporting said cover sections and engaging them adjacent the ends ofsaid ridge, a ridge cord extending between the upper ends of said poles,tension elements extending from the cover sections adjacent the upperends of said poles and extending to the ground, said tension elementsbeing unattached to said cover sections between theirends, thimble-likemeans intermediate the ends of said tension elements adjacent the cavesof the cover sections, sleeves attached to and running along the eavesof said cover sections, eave cords extendng through said sleeves, one ofsaid eave cords being contained in the sleeve at the lower edge of anend cover section and attached to said thimble-like means and another ofsaid eave cords being contained in the sleeve at the lower edge of arectangular sloping section and freely slidable through saidthimble-like means.

8. In a fabric tent, a substantially rectangular panel cut on the biasand normally having incurving upper and lower edges and substantiallystraight and parallel side edges, sleeves along all of said edges, meanssupporting the upper edge of said panel, said means including a poleadjacent each end of said upper edge and a flexible cord extendingbetween said poles and freely passing through the sleeve at the upperedge of the panel, cords extending through the sleeves at the side edgesof said panel, and a cord extending through the sleeve at the lower edgeof said panel whereby the fabric of the panel is distorted and renderedtaut when all of said cords are tensioned with the normally incurvingupper and lower edges of said panel tending to flatten and the sideedges tending to curve inwardly.

9. In a fabric tent, a fabric cover having an eave edge formed byfolding under the material of the cover and attaching the folded undermaterial to the cover by stitching along a line displaced inwardly fromthe eave edge and leaving a depending portion, a side wall attached tosaid depending portion of the cover, said side wall being cut on thebias with respect to the line of jointure with said depending portion,and means for uniformly loading the lower edge of said side wall.

10. In a fabric tent, a fabric cover section, a fabric wall extendingdownwardly from adjacent the lower edge of said cover section, said wallbeing cut on the bias with respect to its upper and lower edges and itslower edge being finished on an incurving line, a channel along saidincurving edge, and a cord passing through said channel and adapted tobe staked to the ground at its ends.

11. In a fabric tent, a cover comprising gores stitched together alongtheir side edges, means supporting said cover adjacent the apices ofsaid gores, said gores having incurving lower edges with sleeves alongthe lower edges, a cord supported freely in said sleeves for relativesliding movement with respect to the lower edges of said gores, saidcord being accessible, from outside the gores, at the localities of thelower corners of the gores, and means for fastening said cord at saidlocalities thereof whereby said cord may be tensioned to extend saidcover and flatten the incurving lower edges of said gores.

12. In a fabric tent, a cover comprising sloping panels of fabricstitched together along side edges and having extended lower edges whichform the eaves of the cover, the panels being formed from fabric cut onthe bias with respect to the eave edges, the eave edges being normallyincurving and provided with sleeves, cords extending through saidsleeves, said cords being freely slidable in said sleeves and adapted tobe straightened by tension applied thereto at the ends of the respectivesleeves whereby the eave edges of the panels tend to flatten out and thematerial of the cover is slightly distorted, and means supporting saidcover adjacent its mid-portion.

13. In a fabric tent, a fabric cover comprising gores stitched togetheralong their side edges, each gore being formed of strips of fabric sewedside by side with the side edges of the strips pitched with respect tothe lower edge of the gore so that the fabric of the gore is on the biaswith respect to the edges of the gore, the lower edges of each gorebeing cut on an incurving line and provided with a sleeve, a cordextending freely through the several sleeves, means for fastening saidcord at points adjacent the side edges of said gores whereby said cordcan be tensioned to flatten out the incurving lower edges of said goresand maintain taut the fabric in said gores, and means supporting saidcover adjacent the upper portions of said gores.

14. In a, fabric tent a cover including a part which has the shape ofpart of a cone and which is formed of gores stitched together andsupsaid cover part and extending from its supported upper portion to theground, -a cord freely passing through said sleeves, said cord beingsubjected totension to thereby flatten the incurving lower edges ofgores.

15. In a fabric tent, a cover comprising substantially rectangular panelof fabric cut on the bias and provided with upper and lower edges whichnormally have incurving lines, sleeves at said upper and lower edges,means supporting said upper edge including a cord extending through thesleeve at the upper edge of the panel and supports at either end of thepanel and between which said cord may be tensioned, a cord extendingthrough the sleeve at the lower edge of said panel and extending beyondthe side edges of said panel at such angles to the lower edge of thepanel as to tend to straighten out the lower incurving edge of saidpanel when tension is applied to the cord, whereby when said cords aretensioned the material of the panel is slightly distorted and maintainedtaut.

16. In a fabric tent, a. fabric cover section having an eave edge, afabric side wall connected at its upper edge to said cover section atthe vicinity of said eave edge, said side wall being cut on the biaswith respect to its upper and lower edges, and means associated withsaid side wall along an incurving line at the lower edge thereof andadapted to be tensioned lengthwise of said lower edge, for applyingdownward force to said wall substantially throughout said edge,'in amanner tending to flatten said line.

17. In a fabric tent, a tent-shaped body of 1'4 fabric including a panelof fabric material having a substantially horizontal edge, and havingside edges joined to other portions of said fabric body, said panelbeing cut on the bias relative to said horizontal edge, and saidhorizontal edge being normally incurving relative to thefjpanel, meansfor supporting the panel at edge localities thereof remote from saidhorizontal edge, cord means disposed along said horizontal edge, saidpanel having associated means along said horizontal edge retaining thecord means in the aforesaid disposition and in such engagement with thepanel that the cord means may exert outward force thereon substantiallyin the plane of the panel and throughout said horizontal edge when thecord means is tensioned, said cord means being adapted to have fasteningconnections made thereto at its ends, to tension it eridwise, wherebythe fabric of the panel is distorted and rendered more taut when thecord means is Itensioned, with said normally incurving horizontal edgethereby tending to flatten and the side edges to curve inwardly.

LEONARD P. FRIEDER. WALTER S. FINKEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,751 Strawn et a1 May 18, 19091,342,234 Smith June 1, 1920 1,377,788 Pennewell May 10, 1921 1,704,945Lefiert Mar. 12, 1929 2,263,867 Barnard Nov. 25, 1941 I P I l

